I suppose not everything can work perfectly all the time; things tend to break — even new things. 

Glenn and I were returning from the Horizons Unlimited CanWest meet in Nakusp, B.C. We had just finished a long gravel stretch and back on Highway 6 to return home (for anyone looking for twisties in B.C., Hwy 6 is a top-notch ride).We weren’t on the highway for 10 minutes before my new BMW F900 GS lost power — no engine, display, or lights. Everything just stopped. I signalled to pull over with my foot, letting Glenn know I was stopping. 

We started trying to diagnose the issue by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery, pulling the main fuse and fiddling with the wiring. Nothing seemed to work. We decided it was time to call in a tow and work on other forms of transport to get back home. We called BCAA and were told it would be up to 90 minutes for a driver to be dispatched, plus travel time.

We waited in the blazing sun — the temperature reaching 34 C — and the road offered no shade, with only the passing of cars offering a slight breeze to help cool us. 

We experienced many acts of kindness: some motorcyclists slowing to make sure we were okay, and a few locals stopping to offer help — one person returned with fresh water and fruit. Two others stopped, letting us know there was a person just down the road who could tow the bike. Glenn went to speak with Reese, the person who was able to tow us, while I sat with my bike and gear that was strewn along the shoulder of the road. 

Glenn returned 30 minutes later with word that BCAA had sent the tow truck in the wrong direction and that the local tow truck driver was going to come and pick up my bike. We loaded it up and left it at his place, to be picked up by us later that night. 

I hopped on the back of Glenn’s bike and off we went for a two-hour ride back to Vernon. Once there, I got my truck and hooked up a bike trailer, and we made our way back to Reese’s place to pick up the bike. After another four hours of travel, we had finally returned with the bike. 

Thinking about my next steps, I remembered that BMW offers roadside assistance. I gave them a call to organize a tow to my local dealership, Kelowna Powersports. It was incredibly easy, and the best part was that I was speaking with a fellow motorcyclist on the other end. He arranged the tow for the next morning, and BMW sent me updates through text to let me know when the truck would arrive to transport the bike. 

The bike was at the shop for just over a week to go over the whole electrical system on the F900 GS, and after reconnecting everything, it seemed there was a bad connection somewhere. Although my bike is now running reliably, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions: frustration about my motorcycle and the knowledge I lack to fix it myself, and gratitude that I chose to go with a BMW, which offers services like this to help relieve the customer if and when something happens with their vehicle. 

I’ll be going to pick up the bike in a few days and have asked the technician to go over the electrical system and connections with me. Hopefully after that, if it happens again, I’ll know how to go about fixing it myself.  

It raises the question: why not keep it simple with barebones machines? Many of us rely heavily on the electronics offered in machines these days, but in doing so, we minimize the understanding we may have that allows us to work on them. Machines are inherently becoming less machine and more digital equipment, requiring specific computers for repairs instead of basic tools — much of which cannot be purchased by the consumer. Let me conclude by saying that this can happen with any machine; the downside with electronic systems in motorcycles is that you will be unable to even diagnose the problem let alone fix it yourself.

I’m hoping that I don’t have to experience a complete electronic failure again with my bike. Of course, there’s no certainty in the world, especially when it comes to things we don’t understand. As riders, we do a lot to ensure our bikes don’t break. However, in this day and age it would seem more worthwhile to brush up on your knowledge of electronic wiring and connections if you’re going to be riding a new motorcycle.